jtcruise15 saw things this way:
Overall
3
Friendly place, April 17, 2015
Reviewer: jtcruise15
Pros: Relaxing tour with friendly, knowledgeable and informative guide
Cons: We wish there was more to see on the tour
We took a tour that included a stop at the Stone Castle Cameo Institute (very interesting), which was followed by a ride on a "glass-bottom" boat and ended with a stop at a restaurant that provided entertainment with a group of African dancers. Afterwards, we shopped around for the best prices for souvenirs and gifts and found a small shop with flexible prices.
rmlemons saw things this way:
Overall
5
The island was beautiful and charming., April 14, 2011
Reviewer: rmlemons
Pros: Great dock area and a wonderful marine institute
Cons: The area right around the dock seemed a bit too 'sterile'
The area right around the dock had a few shops and had a group of islanders dancing all day long in costume. This all seemed a bit much and obviously just there for the tourists. On the positive side, it wasn't much of a walk to get to where the taxis were, so in that respect it was a nice port. We did a dive and a dolphin encounter here with the kids. Both were a taxi ride to the other side of the island to the Roatan Marine Institute. This place was wonderful! I had seen one other dolphin encounter and was skeptical about exploiting these lovely animals in that way. But RIM had a very large area in the ocean where they kept their dolphins together in a breeding group. The animals seemed happy and while I might've liked to have had more interaction with them, I felt like what I did get was willingly given by the animals. The dive was also the best one of the three we did on the cruise. The area was lovely, the crew professional, and the boat large and laid out well for divers. Of all the ports we visited, this one was my favorites and I hope to return here to explore this island more in the future.
Bydesignprez saw things this way:
Overall
4
Laid back - not sophisticated but charming, July 7, 2010
Reviewer: Bydesignprez
Pros: Reasonable cost of activities and meals away from the port
Cons: Very hectic and crowded by the port
We did not take an organized tour but instead walked out and negotiated a taxi and driver to take us around. The car was a wreck but it suited the place. No air and it should have been condemned but the driver did a great job taking us around and giving us a running commentary on what real people do on Roatan. We had a nice lunch in Halfmoon Bay, Westend, right on the waterfront for $12. Some of the performers from the ship were there enjoying the sun and water. Roatan is not a place where people watch the clock, so we were worried that the taxi driver had scammed us, but he fought his way through the chaotic traffic and picked us up only a little bit late. All in all, we were glad we took a low stress a la carte tour instead of being herded around in a large group.
